Secrets to saving money on Amazon

Amazon is back on top as America's favorite company according to a recent poll. Shoppers love the convenience, selection and those low prices. We know the extra perks that come with a Prime membership, but there are little-known secrets anyone can use to get a better deal.

Prime memberships guarantee two-day shipping. For whatever reason, sometimes it takes longer, which can be a bummer if you really needed the product in that timeframe. Make sure Amazon knows about the delay. “And they'll either give you a free one-month extension to your prime membership, which is an $8 or $9 value or they'll give you a $5 credit back to your account,” said Kyle James of rather-be-shopping.com.

Prices can fluctuate week to week. Kyle spoke with a rep who explained that every shopper is covered by a 7-day price protection after the item is delivered to you. “You can either call their customer service line or start a live chat session and explain the situation. They will refund that $50 back to you credit card,” he explained.

Enter your purchases on CamelCamelCamel, and you'll get an email if the price drops. When looking for specific brands and models, Kyle said never buy the first item you see, especially with electronics priced $100 or more. Scroll down to those carousels further down the products page. “You can find better deals than what you found in the search results. A lot of times, they're either sold by the manufacturer or a third party and in many cases they're the same exact product that you're looking at and you can get it cheaper,” you said.

Turn your unwanted stuff into gift cards through Amazon Trade-In. “Items they seem to really want is [sic] electronics, gadgets, books," he said. Amazon covers the cost for you to mail the item. “It's just really good customer service and that's what Amazon has grown famous for,” Kyle said after his experience with them.

With the price of real estate, many people are choosing to renovate the homes they own, and when it comes to adding square footage, the cost can be expensive. One Henrico man skipped traditional construction and doubled the size of his home by thinking outside of the box.

With the price of real estate, many people are choosing to renovate the homes they own, and when it comes to adding square footage, the cost can be expensive. One Henrico man skipped traditional construction and doubled the size of his home by thinking outside of the box.